A/N: Have a little family drama before everything goes downhill~ :D This chapter is a bit short, just like the last one, but I didn't want to start on the major events (yes, they're happening soon) in the same chapter as this drama. Hope you enjoy~

Emi

The moment I stepped foot outside of the twins' vehicle, I knew I should have answered my phone.

Sitting in the driveway, conspicuous as ever, was a beat-up, green car I would have recognized anywhere. After all, he'd owned it since I was little. I froze in place at the sight, eyes growing wide as saucers. The twins were saying something to me, I knew, but their words buzzed without fully registering in my mind.

"He's here..." I realized.

That's why the text was written in English.

"Emi-chan?"

"Who--"

I took off for the front door, uncaring about the fact my dress certainly didn't appreciate the rough treatment. The moment I'd tore it open, my eyes searched the entry-way. Standing perhaps a dozen feet inside, with a lively smile on his face, was a man I hadn't seen in nearly a year. His coal-black hair was trimmed short, where it'd once been long enough to be held back by a hair-tie. The memory of him shaving it, just as I'd chopped off mine, flashed through mind as I raced towards him.

"Dad!"

He barely had the chance to turn around before I threw myself at him. We nearly toppled over, but thankfully, the difference in our sizes kept him standing. As I buried my face in his chest, I could hear the twins join us in the house. Any other time, I would have spun around to chew them out for entering without permission, but at the moment I couldn't care. As if reading my mind, Dad laughed. One of his arms returned my hug, the other reaching up to ruffle my hair.

"Missed me?" he asked.

"Eeeh?"

"A foreigner?"

Again, I ignored the twins confusion, content just to stay where I was for now. In those few seconds, I felt the weight of the world dropping from my shoulders. I knew as soon as I stepped away, it would come back, but for now... I'd just be the girl being comforted by her father.

"You two must be Emi's friends," Dad observed in English, dropping his hand from my head. I might have asked why he didn't speak in Japanese, but before I could he continued. "I sincerely hope that's all you are. My assistant refuses to allow me to register a firearm in this country."

My cheeks flooded with color and I jerked back from the hug, scowling. "Dad!"

The man in question started laughing, only making me scowl more. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glowered at him.

"You can't just say stuff like that," I snapped.

The jerk had the nerve to try and look innocent as he turned his hands palm-up in the air. "What? I was nice enough not to say it in Japanese..."

"They can understand you, idiot!"

"Emi-chan," Hikaru began.

"You called him dad?" Kaoru asked.

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Not only were they choosing to speak English as well, but they'd appeared on either side of me without warning. Thankfully, they seemed to have read the room and refrained from dropping their arms on my shoulders, or getting to close, or any of the annoying stuff they usually pulled. Rather, they were wearing their innocent looks as well, accompanied by welcoming smiles.

Can't I have any normal, not annoying men in my life?

Curiosity clear as day on his face, Dad returned their smiles with one of his own, as if he hadn't just subtly threatened their lives. The wrinkles that always appeared near his mossy-green eyes when he smiled seemed deeper than the last time I'd seen him, as if to show the difference a year made. His gaze flicked between them, as if debating whom to greet first, before he just vaguely put a hand out between us.

"Sorry for the late introduction," he said. "I am Edmund Noel, the twins father."

The boys seemed to go stiff at my sides, and I didn't bother to hide my grin. As annoying as it was to have Dad going all... well, Dad on them, I couldn't help but feel pleased that no matter the weird relationship, the introduction between a guy and my dad was always awkward. Sure, usually it irritated me, but right now I couldn't but feel like I'd won something, given they were usually the ones putting me on the spot.

Kaoru was the one who jolted to attention first, stepping forward to take my dad's hand. I frowned, realizing his polite smile hadn't faltered in the least. Dammit.

"Kaoru Hitachiin."

"Hikaru Hitachiin."

Taking their introductions in stride, my Dad wore that innocent smile of his, shooting off a warning bell in the back of my mind. He wouldn't...

"I'll ask in Japanese, as to not have any miscommunications," he began, catching the twins attentions. "So, which of you was her date tonight?"

My face was on fire, and dammit if my dad didn't look entirely too pleased with himself.

"Both of us?"

I was going to kill Hikaru. Slowly, and painfully. As if reading my mind, he grinned. Kaoru, meanwhile, was watching my dad's face as if to make sure he'd caught the joke. In turn, my dad started laughing once again.

"I like you two," he decided. "If it wasn't so late, I'd ask you to stay for tea."

Dammit! You're not supposed to like them!

"Some other time," Dad continued, catching sight of my expression and grinning. "Emi looks like she hates the idea, so it's perfect."

It was decided. I would kill Hikaru, then my dad, then Kaoru. After that, I'd consider adding in every other annoying male in my life before aborting society and running off to live with Eri in the mountains where no one would ever make me have to deal with this situation ever again.

I was being dramatic. Bite me.

"Sounds great," the twins chimed.

If anything, Dad looked even more curious. "You guys do that twin thing? The girls used to do it. Emi here stopped when I told them it was cute. She's... what's the word you use here in Japan...? A tsu--"

"Dad!"

He put up his hands as I slugged him in the chest. Satisfaction flickered through me as he stumbled back, then left as he laughed once again.

"See what I mean?"

The twins joined him. I was tempted to hit them, too. Before I could, however, their phones vibrated. In synch, they pulled them out to glance at the message, before looking at each other and shrugging.

"Gotta go," Hikaru announced.

"'Kaasan's calling," Kaoru added.

"Don't let us keep you," Dad replied, glancing at me. "Unless, you're against them lea--"

"Get the fuck out," I deadpanned.

Roaring laughter came from all sides.

Dammit.

Thankfully, offering a short goodbye, the twins left. Filling my cheeks with air, I simply pouted at Dad, ignoring the sheepish, almost apologetic grin he offered me as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"C'mon, Em, don't be like that. Teasing you's just too much fun. I can't help myself~."

He'd switched back to English again. The realization turned my pout into a real scowl. If it wasn't for the reason behind it, I wouldn't have had a problem with it. Despite the party, I wasn't too exhausted. I would have been able to keep up with the conversation rather decently. But... the reason was shit, so I was pissed.

"Can't you at least pretend like you want to stay here?"

His grin dropped away. Of course it did. The venom in my Japanese words would've been strong enough to slay a dragon. Don't be a bitch, Emi, I told myself; then promptly ignored it. He deserves bitchy me when he acts like that.

"Of course I wanna be--"

"You don't. You're distancing yourself. Like always. Making it clear that you aren't from here, like always."

"Em--"

"I'm tired."

Then, like the brat I was, I shouldered past him and darted for the stairs. Sure, it was unfair, but I didn't really care. I already had the title of the difficult twin-- I might as well take advantage of it and throw a tantrum. I would have made my getaway, too, if not for the sound of the door opening. Pausing on the first step, I glanced over my shoulder. Eri stood there, stock still, her shock clear as day. Although, it sorta paled in comparison to mine.

"I was in the garden... I didn't feel like coming in..." she murmured. "I saw the twins leave and I..."

"Are you in a dress?" I demanded.

"Are you really here?" she asked, voice soft. 

"Where'd you go in a dress? Oh, Kami, it was a date, wasn't it? Who--" It couldn't be. "Holy shit, it w--"

"Emi!"

Right, bad timing. I was supposed to be playing the role of pissed, brat right now, not way-too-excited-for-her-own-good sister. From the look on Eri's face, though, I knew my guess was right. Her face was flushed all the way to the tips of her ears. I was so grilling her about that later. For now, I replaced my grin with a scowl as Dad hesitantly opened his arms.

"Hug?"

Unlike my initial reaction, Eri hesitated. She hung just inside the doorway. Despite there being no one behind her, she glanced over her shoulder, as if looking for an answer as to how to react. Then, slowly, she looked back at him, before dropping her gaze to the floor.

"When did you touch down?"

He dropped his hands to his sides, the grin falling from his lips. Once again, that sheepish, apologetic look appeared as he raised his hand to run through his hair.

"Ah... this morning. I had Emi's number written down on an old document, so I text her, but I broke my phone a while back so I didn't have your n--"

"It's fine," Eri cut in. "How long are you staying? Does Okaasan know you're here?"

I knew the answer before he even opened his mouth; the miniscule flinch betraying him. Our mother didn't know-- otherwise he'd have never been permission to show up here. If she'd known he was in town, this close to election time, she would have forbid him from coming within a ten-block radius of the house. After all, ex-lovers visiting her home-- even if she didn't live here-- didn't make for very poll-friendly news articles.

"I was planning on calling her in the morning."

"So, you're leaving tomorrow," Eri concluded.

This time, he really did flinch. "I--"

"Emi, did you finish your math homework?" Eri walked past him, purposely turning her eyes on me. "If not, I'll help you. Just let me change first."

"Er--"

"Got it," I interrupted, waiting for her to draw even before I started up the stairs. "Me too. Meet in your room in say... ten?"

"Perfect."

"Girls..."

"I trust you know your way out, Dad~" I called over my shoulder.

Yeah, I was a bitch.

So what. He'd be gone tomorrow, and then it wouldn't matter anyways. Dad was horrid like that. He was friendly, warm, everything our mother and step-father didn't try to be. He pretended he cared. But then, the moment our mother rose her voice, he disappeared like the wind. He didn't argue-- he didn't try to put up a fight to stick around for a minute longer. He didn't say anything like, 'their my children, too, and I have a right to see them.' Hell, he'd let himself be kicked out of Eri's hospital room on multiple occations.

He just bowed his head like a meek little mistress and left. 

So, fuck him. 

If he wasn't gone by morning-- brother having kicked him out-- then he'd be gone by the afternoon when mother'd heard he'd returned. I doubted he'd have the courage to actually call her himself. I had to wonder where he got off acting like that. Neither Eri or I were that spineless. At least, I didn't think we were. Maybe I just didn't see it. 

Well, whatever. 

"So, so, Eri~ You have to tell me everything about your date with Kyoya!" 

"It wasn't a date!" 

"Ooooh, so you were with him..." 

"Emi!"